Dawlish

Just a gentle walk down the coast is Dawlish, a large seaside town in it's own right and home to the wonderful feature, the "lawn", a long river bisecting a park through the entire centre of the town.

This long water feature is full of waterbird life, including the Dawlish Black Swans, floating gracefully along the clear water around fountains and under a collection of lights that give an amazing display late at night when reflected off the shimmering river.

Around the lawn areshops catering for beach tools and toys, food and drink of all kinds and a large amusement arcade full of that all important seaside holiday need, things that go beep and allow you the random chance of winning a cuddly toy.

Walking under the railway bridge brings you to Dawlish beach, often more crowded than the Warren's beach but just as beautiful as you gaze out across the channel and maybe search out the rocks known as "The Parson and the Clerk".

The legend surrouding these rocks tells of an ambitious man of the cloth and his clerk who visited the Bishop of Exeter on a regular basis while he was ill, largely so the PArson could plug his own case for being the new bishop.

The weather was so bad, the legend says, that the clerk got them both completely lost and was berated by the Parson who shouted that the Devil would make a better guide.

Up steps an old local who led the pair astray to a raucous party. When they attempted to leave it was revealed the party was being hosted by the Devil himself and the house vanished, leaving the Parson and the Clerk to plummet into the sea turning into a rock formation at the edge of the cliff at the southernmost end of Dawlish.

So do enjoy your trip to Dawlish but maybe avoid any house parties you might be invited to...

Get to Dawlish:
On foot via the sea wall from Dawlish Warren
By car (directions from Multimap.com)
By bus (the number 2 from the centre of Dawlish Warren)
By train (the southbound platform, beach side)

 

Teignmouth

A little further down the coast from Dawlish is Teignmouth, the third member of the trio of seaside towms edging the English Channel.

Teignmouth has possibly the biggest town centre of the three with the most shops, it also has an attractive ferry ride across to near neighbour Shaldon.

However, what sets Teignmouth apart from it's local neighbours is a 700-foot-long classically designed pleasure pier, that has stood strong since being completed in 1867 (despite an aborted attempt in the 1870s to move it across Devon to Paignton).

The beach end of the pier contains traditional shops and amusements, whilst the remainder has children's rides, radio controlled models, and an outdoor go-kart track on the site of the old castle pavilion at the seaward end.

Get to Teignmouth:
On foot via the sea wall through Dawlish then the cliff path across to Teignmouth
By car (directions from Multimap.com)
By bus (the number 2 from the centre of Dawlish Warren)
By train (the southbound platform, beach side)